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rw _ -- a Juniors > i ee Be | ready for home Area baseball fans will get a look at the town's new Midland Junior baseball club tonight as they kick off the home portion of their 1982 South-Simcoe Baseball League schedule with a tangle against Orillia at Tiffin Park. It may not be a long look, though. The game, which will get underway ai 6:45 despite Midland manager Dick Thomp- son's efforts to get an earlier start, is in danger of being shor- tened in the light-less park. Thompson said Orillia representatives told him earlier this week that they just couldn't make a 6 p.m. start. However long it lasts, though, it'll be a game. And for many area fans it's been a long time in coming. The stated purpose of the club, said organizers, was to revive Midland's traditional baseball heritage. The town has had its glory years in OBA competition and was highly regarded in the Intermediate and Senior ranks before fizzling out several years ago. N ow pe oS back. Thompson said he's had unforeseen problems in recruiting The Times' Own Andrea Desmasdons was one of seven in- dividuals receiving awards at last night's big Midland Minor Hockey Association annual post-season banquet at Midland Arena. More than 1,100 players, coaches and parents attended the dinner and awards ceremony, which was highlighted by a talk from Mike Moffatt, the young goaltending star of the Boston Bruins. Desmasdons, the Times' circulation manager, was awarded the association's House League Coaeh of the Year Award for her efforts with the Georgian Bay Real Estate Atom squad. MMHA President Bill Jones, Jr. was honored with the George Dudley Memorial Trophy as the Person Contributing Most to Minor Hockey and Dave Chalmers received the Rep Team Coach of the Year trophy for his work in leading the Bell Canada Major Atoms to Ontario Minor Hockey Association and Georgian Bay Minor Hockey League titles. Other' individual awards went to Pat Marchand of _ the Midland Indusmin Minor Bantams (the Roy Perrault Memorial Trophy for Most Dedicated and Valuable Player on the Minor Bantam Rep team); Greg Hawke of Century 21 (the Roy Burke Memorial Trophy for Best All-Round Effort, Peewee House League) ; Peter Tumber, Stoneleigh Motors (the Michael Kent Memorial Trophy for Most Improved Player, Tyke House League); and Mike Waltenbury, McQuirter-Realty World, (Globe and Mail Plaque for Most Improved Player, Atom House League). Mike Hammond of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association was on hand to present OMHA trophies to the vic- torious Bell Canada Major Atoms' and Gervan Jones and Davy Minor Atoms. Georgian Bay League championship trophies were also presented to the Bell Canada squad, as well as the French Dry Cleaners Minor Peewees, the Jaycees Major Bantams, the Stoneleigh Motors Minor Midgets and the Legion Major Midgets. House League championship _ trophies were awarded to the Buildall Midgets, the Wye Heritage Marine Bantams, the Midland Police Peewees, the McQuirter-Realty World Atoms, the Bourgeois Motors Novices and the IVE Tykes. enough Junior-age (21 and under) players, but at least there is a team and they will tough it out. Uniforms are on order and, though it's soft and still a little rough, they have a home at Tiffin © Park. It's not a pretty start on the road to recon- struction, but at least it's a start. And, as of this af- ternoon, the team is undefeated. In their opener Monday in Beeton, the Midlanders came up with an 8-1 thrashing of the other new league entry. But Beeton is far from the best of the lot and sooner or later Midland will have to face the rest of the gang: including Ivy, Barrie, Newmarket, Collingwood and Owen Sound. Sunday, Midland will play their second home game -- a 2 p.m. date against Ivy. Thompson says he isn't particularly worried about tonight's confrontation, based on reports that Orillia isn't as powerful as_ they were last year. And the rest of the league has appeared generally competitive -- with a few glaring exceptions -- after the first few days of play. The 'glaring ex- ceptions are, on the bottom of the scale, Beeton, and on the top Newmarket and Barrie. Barrie, a Juvenile squad reported to be a favourite for the provincial Juvenile crown, murdered Beeton 35-2 Wednesday night. And Newmarket is always tough. But, says Thompson, his team will just take them as they come. And Thompson will just take his players as_ they come. Bob Dyment, the only player on the club over Junior age, was brought on because of a severe shortage of pitching staff. In fact, there's only one other on staff -- Ernie Desroches. Desroches pitched four inning's of Mon- day's opener and Dyment finished up, and, as far as Thompson is concerned, they're both capable. No matter how capable, though, there's only two of the, and that could present a problem this weekend. Thompson said yesterday he still hasn't made a final decision but will probably start Dyment tonight and Desroches Sunday -- and hope they travel well.. Pie Helping Gulf out of a stew Craig Watson makes a save for Stewart's Gulf Oilers during the club's Penetang-Midland Ball Hockey League encounter against Forget Con- struction Wednesday at Penetanguishene Arena. Cowan oils Gulf Carl Cowan scored three goals to power the Stewart's Gulf Oilers to a 5-2 comeback victory over Forget Con- struction in Penetang- Midland Ball Hockey League action Wed- Nee Saduaay at Penetanguishene Arena. In the only other game Wednesday, Duquette's Dukes came up with their first win in six games with a 5-3 decision over the Sur- plus Plus Sabres. Three more games -- including a match Garry Forbes * Sports editor * Watson -- who starred for the Midland Athletics Intermediates hockey club last winter -- helped his club rebound from a 2-0 deficit to a 5-2 win. Soring Tourney, Minor Start-up, Page 19 between Ron's Con- fectionary and the S. Charlebois Haulage Diggers, both of whom sport perfect records so far -- were scheduled for last night, but results were unavailable at press time. Wayne Dixon and Larry Cowan were the other Oilers marksmen and Roger Desroches answered with both Forget goals. Forget were ahead 2-0 early in the game but the Oilers powered back with support from goaltenders Randy Vincent and Craig Watson. Brian Lethbridge was in the Forget net. Pat Brodeur led the Dukes attack in the late game with two goals. Dave Wright and Steve Flynn added one apiece. Sabres marksmen were Ron Lalonde, with two, and Mark Brunelle. Glen Irvine did the netminding chores for Duquette's, Dennis Ladouceur was in for Surplus Plus. The Sabres' loss provided a four-way tie for last place in the 11- team loop. This weekend, the league hosts its annual Spring Tournament, but scheduled play will resume Tuesday with Forget meeting the Dukes and the Sabres taking on the Legion Branch 68 E. _». iE a try at the team by virtue shes is the Canada Games.